DUTCH fruit supplier Fruit World Breda unveiled a brand new pomegranate processing operation in India yesterday (25 January), part of a ground-breaking joint venture with Indian firm Naturefresh Logistics.

Located in Maharashtra, some four hours drive from Mumbai, the state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled FreshAcres Agri India facility will mechanically process pomegranate arils year-round for fresh-cut markets in Europe, Asia, and potentially North America.

The plant, understood to be the first of its kind in India, will produce 280kg of fresh arils per hour, 22,400kg per week, from locally-sourced, GlobalGap-certified fruit, Fruit World Breda director Michael Aagaard told Fruitnet.com.

“Between time of production in India and delivery at Fruit World in Holland, there will be a maximum of 36 hours,” he said. “We want to make it possible for all retailers to have arils in their range.”

Pomegranate consumption in Europe has increased in recent years, as consumers have become more aware of the fruit’s nutritional value, Mr Aagaard added.

“Pomegranates are now well known as a superfruit, and the popularity of arils is growing every day,” he said.